Daily Business Report-Dec. 16, 2015

San Diego Becomes Largest U.S. City

To Commit to 100 Percent Clean Energy

A long-awaited plan to address climate change in San Diego, which has garnered support from both environmental and business groups, was unanimously passed by the City Council on Tuesday.

The document

“We are a city where the quality of the environment is essential to our quality of life,” Mayor Kevin Faulconer told the council members.

The plan created by city staff over the past couple of years has, among other things, a goal of reducing emission levels by 20 percent in 2020 and by half in 2035, using levels recorded in San Diego in 2010 as the baseline.

The plan won bipartisan backing on the City Council, as well as support from numerous environmental organizations, organized labor and business interests such as San Diego Gas & Electric, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and San Diego Taxpayers Association.

Five strategic focus areas of the plan are:

• Energy and water efficient buildings, with the city providing a mix of regulatory mandates and incentives.

• Clean and renewable energy, with the city facilitating the installation of local renewable energy projects.

• Bicycling, walking and transit, in which land-use decisions can promote alternative means of travel.

• Reducing waste, promoting recycling and capturing landfill gases.

• Climate resiliency, to create programs and policies that will help city officials respond to potential impacts.

“This plan provides the framework to create new jobs and preserve our leadership position in the clean-tech sector,” Faulconer said. “We will improve public health and air quality.We will decrease San Diego’s dependence on imported water. We will increase the use of clean energy, with a goal of 100 percent renewable energy by 2035.”

A group called the Climate Action Campaign said San Diego becomes the largest U.S. city to commit to producing all of its energy needs from renewable sources.

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Veteran-Owned Small Businesses to Get

Competitive Edge in County Contracts

If you own a small business or you’re a veteran who owns a business and you want a contract with the county of San Diego, you’ll have an edge thanks to a change in Board of Supervisors policy.

The board voted Tuesday to allow competitive procurements of up to $100,000 to be set aside exclusively for certified small and veteran-owned businesses.

The county currently has two programs for disabled veteran-owned businesses. This new policy change creates a program for the two additional types of businesses.

The idea is to promote broader veteran participation in county contracts in recognition of their sacrifices in serving our country, as well as boost small business.

The policy change means these businesses will have a greater likelihood of success when it comes to competing for a set-aside contract. It may also prompt more businesses to get their certifications from the State of California and/or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The county’s Department of Purchasing and Contracting will put the new program into effect later next year.

UC San Diego Gets $700,000 in Grants

To Promote Driving Safety and Awareness

The UC San Diego School of Medicine has received grants totaling $700,000 to continue programs focused on distracted driving awareness and aging road users, as well as the launch of a new initiative focused on pedestrian safety.

The funding comes from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The extension of the “Just Drive — Take Action Against Distraction” campaign will continue to educate adults on the dangers of distracted driving and provide practical strategies to reduce risks. The program also assists companies with the development of worksite cell phone policies.

“With today’s social media platforms and advanced technologies, we are expected to be constantly connected and available,” said Linda Hill, program director of Training, Research and Education Driving Safety (TREDS.) “But a simple glance at your phone while driving can cause life-threatening injuries that could forever change a person’s life.”

In addition, TREDS will continue its statewide training programs for health professionals, law enforcement and social service providers, who all play a role in identifying and referring drivers with age-related impairments that can affect driving. Currently in California, there are more than 82,000 drivers in their 90s and more than 540 licensed drivers over the age of 100. By 2030, one in five drivers will be over 65 years old.

Rincon Band Councilmember Elected

Chair of Indian Gaming Association

Steve Stallings

Steve Stallings, councilmember of the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians, has been elected chairman of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association.

“I am honored to serve as CNIGA’s chairman. I follow a long line of respected tribal leaders and vow to continue their work in protecting the inherent sovereign rights of California’s tribal governments,” said Stallings. “I would like to thank former Chairman Daniel J. Tucker for his wisdom and guidance as well as his longstanding dedication to CNIGA. Tucker will be deeply missed but we wish him a world of happiness as he enjoys his much deserved retirement.”

Stallings has served on the CNIGA executive committee for six years as both the vice chairman and treasurer.

Damon Sandoval, Councilmember of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, was elected vice chairman of the association.

SDSU Receives Record

Undergraduate Applications

For the fifth year in a row San Diego State University has received a record number of undergraduate applications.

The application period for fall 2016 closed on Nov. 30 with 83,316 freshman and undergraduate transfer student applications. That is an increase of nearly 3 percent from the record 81,080 applications received at this time last year for fall 2015 admission.

“We are excited to again see record interest in our academic programs. This interest reflects the dedicated efforts of our talented faculty and staff members, our growing national reputation and the extraordinary achievements of our alumni and current students.” said SDSU President Elliot Hirshman.

Among the fall undergraduate applications are 59,953 first-time freshmen and 22,817 transfer students, up 3 and 2 percent, respectively, over last year.

Return of the USS Essex

The USS Essex back in San Diego

Sailors man the rails Tuesday while pulling into Naval Base San Diego aboard Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex. Essex is the flagship of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and is returning from a seven-month deployment to the 7th and 5th Fleet areas of responsibility in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and global maritime security. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Liam Kennedy)

Personnel Announcements

Cavignac & Associates Hires Account Manager

Vy Ouk

has joined Cavignac & Associates as a commercial lines account manager. A nine-year veteran of the insurance industry, Ouk will serve as the main contact person at the agency for her assigned customer accounts, identifying exposure to loss for these clients, educating them on compliance issues, and advising them of appropriate insurance coverage. As part of her responsibilities, she will manage the new business and renewal process, review risk management surveys, complete submissions to market new and renewal accounts to insurance carriers, and negotiate coverage terms.

Ouk previously served as a mid-loss field property adjuster for Mercury Insurance in San Diego, where she was employed for one-and-a-half years. Previous experience includes having been a property claims adjuster for Travelers Insurance in San Diego, and a commercial lines marketer for J.L. Hubbard Insurance & Bonds in Forsyth, Ill.

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Voice Your Opinion

We Want Your Opinions on San Diego’s Big Issues
In the coming months, Probosky Research (one of California’s leading opinion research firms) will continue its partnership with SD METRO to survey San Diego residents about topics of interest to our readers. We’d like to throw open the door for suggestions for topics. What do you want to know? What do you think you know, but aren’t sure? What are you certain you know, but want to prove it beyond doubt? Ideally, we’d like to see questions that have to do with public policy.
Some areas may include Mayor Filner’s first 100 days job performance, should the city be responsible for economic growth and the creation of new jobs, how important are infrastructure improvements to our daily lives (streets and bridges, etc.), how important is water independence, how satisfied are residents with public transit or how do city residents value Balboa Park and other open spaces? Do you believe the City Council should revive the Plaza de Panama plan for Balboa Park?
You can email Probolsky Research directly with your ideas: info@probolskyresearch.com